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University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 1955
Thanksgiving Is Old Custom- But The Times Have Changed
The modern day of feasting and religious observance known as Thanksgiving Day is a far cry from the time set aside by the New England settlers to give thanks for their survival in the new country.
Credit for the actual establishment of the last Thursday in November as the date for Thanksgiving Day goes not to the Pilgrims, but to Mrs. Sarah Hale, an early editor of Godey's Lady's Book. Through the use of editors and letters, she persuaded President Lincoln to proclaim the official holiday in 1863.
Originally For Recreation
The first Pilgrim thanksgiving in 1621 was not a religious occasion, but a day of recreation. The 55 Englishmen at the celebration ate turkey and played games for a week.
The Puritans, who hated all traditions from England, substituted Thanksgiving Day for Christmas. Churchmen mockingly called it St. Pumpkins Day and approved activities such as shooting, target practice, and "other recreations" which historians have never defined.
Later, part of the celebration was moved to the church, and the services were used for political speeches.
Gov. Eldridge Gerry of Massachusetts once sent a traditional governor's proclamation which took two hours to read. After reading the document, the minister began to denounce President Jefferson, ignoring the fact that the entire congregation had gone home and he was speaking to empty pews.
In 1705, the day of Thanksgiving was changed from the first to the second Thursday in November. Reason for the switch was that a boatload of molasses for pumpkin pies was a week late in arriving at Colchester, Conn.
The idea of a day of thanks is common in other countries also. The English have observed a Thanksgiving Day for hundreds of years in gratitude for failure of a plot to blow up the king and the House of Lords in 1605.
Forensic League Gives Invitation
In an effort to get new members, the Forensic League is inviting anyone "who likes to make a speech" to a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the English Room of the Union.
These prospects will talk to present members of the League and will be told of the group's activities.
"Anyone interested in becoming a member of the League is invited. These persons do not have to be experienced speakers," David Horr. Lawrence junior and League president, said.
Forensic League speakers not only gain public speaking experience in the group's meetings, but they also speak for such drives as the Campus Chest. They also have speaking engagements in schools, civic groups, and clubs in the state.
Executive Workshop To Be Held Dec. 2,3
A combination executives' workshop and directors' meeting of the Kansas Federation of Women's Clubs will be held at the University Dec. 2 and 3.
Speakers will be faculty members in the departments of speech and social science, the School of Education, and University Extension.
Czechs Print American Novel
VIENNA — (U.P.) — Communist Czechoslovakia will publish a novel by a non-Communist American author for the first time, the Prague daily newspaper Lidova Demokracie announced today. The newspaper said Ernest Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" will be printed next year by the state-owned National Printing Co.
There are 22,000,000 milk cows in the United States according to the Agriculture Department.
Santa's Helpers Get Bums' Rush
KENNEWICK, Wash. —(U.P.)— couple of Santa Claus' helpers offered to sell pieces of "the new North Pole" to first graders for 25 cents each got the bums' rush.
School principal Jack Frisk called in police who looked with some disfavor on the offer.
Mr. Frisk showed up at the police station with a batch of leaflets which two first graders said two men had paid them a quarter to distribute among their classmates.
For 25 cents to be sent to Butte,
Mont. (where the temperature was
25 degrees below zero) the leaflet
offered:
1. Membership in a Santa Claus club.
A. deed to a chunk of "the new North Pole."
3. A promise that Santa would reply to all letters written by club members.
4. An appearance on television with Santa,
5. A special pipeline to Santa for club members' requests.
6. A chance to help less fortunate youngsters.
Police found Santa's helpers waiting for customers at the school yard. They suggested they return to the North Pole. The "helpers" left.
Christmas Exhibit To Open Sunday
An exhibition of 10 original Christmas paintings by Saul Steinberg will open Sunday at the Museum of Art. The paintings, to be on display through Jan. 6, are from the Hallmark Cards collection and have been reproduced by the Kansas City, Mo., firm as Christmas cards.
Mr. Steinberg has created a new face, figure and personality for Santa Claus in these paintings. The girth of Mr. Steinberg's Santa is nearly the only characteristic of the old gentleman the artist has retained.
Mr. Steinberg earned a degree in philosophy from hte University of Bucharest and a degree in architecture from the University of Milan. The architectural influence remains dominant through nearly all of his work.
He Went Round and Round
DETROIT (U.P.)—Frank Cline, 46,
was fined $5 because he lost a fight with a revolving door. Mr.
Cline tried to exit through a revolving door yesterday and collapsed from exhaustion after pushing for 10 minutes. Police carried him off and charged him with being drunk and disorderly.
HARTFORD, Conn. —(U.P.)—A meeting of officials to turn over to the New Haven Railroad property for construction of a new station to provide more efficient service was delayed several minutes. Finally the railroad's representative, Attorney Thomas J. O'Sullivan, arrived and explained, "The train was late."
Efficiency Plus
'Uncle Jimmy Cost $40,000
How far did $40,000 go in 1924? That was the price of "Uncle Jimmy" Green memorial statute which stands in front of the law school. Things were high in those days too.
The cost of the statue is nearly as much as Green Hall. The state legislature granted only $50,000 for construction of the law building in 1903.
The statue was completed in 1924 by Daniel Chester Fool, sculptor of the Lincoln memorial statue in Washington, D.C. It pictures James Woods Green, dean of the School of Law for 40 years, with his hand on the shoulder of Alfred C. Alford, the first University student to be killed in war. Alford was killed Feb. 7, 1899 inthe Spanish-American War.
Green was the first dean of the first professional department at KU. He began instructing 13 students in 1878. The state at that time provided no pay for the law department. He continued his private practice until 1885.
It is said the reason K-State fans started painting the statue in pre-game raids was because Dean Green was called the "Patron Saint of Kansas University Football." He was once president of the Athletic Association and a very ardent sports fan. The painting escapades by K-State set a precedence which nowadays needs no motive.
The night the announcement was made that the state legislature had appropriated the money for the building, a group of engineers placed a small frame building in front of Fraser. The inscription on the model read "Green Hall." "The New Law Building" and "Gymnasium in the Basement."
The law building was completed in 1905 and had 150 students at the time.
The students at KU at that time wanted a gym and had made a request to the legislature for one. However, only funds for the new law building were granted.
Air Group Initiates 20 AFROTC Men
Twenty AFROTC cadets have become members of Arnold Air Society.
Initiated were: John Boerger, Sedgwick senior; Robert S. Boyd of Overland Park, Roger S. Edwards of McPherson, John G. Erikson of Hutchinson, Weston W. George of Wichita, Gary Griffith of Kansas City, Mo., juniors; Neil M Hart, Liberal senior; Harold C. Hill, Beloit junior; Donald H. Landauer, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. senior.
John R. Lembke Prairie Village sophomore; Arthur V. Leonard of Leawood, Willis L. Mog of Mankato, Paul E. Peters of Lorraine, Phillip A. Rein of Hillsboro, Gary L. Rrohr of Wichita, Elmore W. Snyder of Leavenworth, juniors; Leo D. Williams of Lawrence, Paul Burke of Kansas City, Kan., seniors; C. Louis Stroup of Topeka, and Robert W. Reck of Hutchinson, juniors.
Burke was elected executive officer of the society, Rein assistant operations officer, Stroup assistant public information officer, and Hill, assistant treasurer.
KC To Open New Garage
Jayhawk School Of The Air Helps Educate Children
Visitors driving to Kansas City after Dec. 4 will find 1200 new parking spaces available in the new underground Auditorium Plaza Garage.
Located in the block between Wyandotte and Central, and Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, the garage is completely modern, fireproof and equipped to provide the Kansas City visitor with fast, convenient, and safe parking.
The new underground garage will be operated on the park-it-yourself principle. Upon entering the garage the parker will find wide one-way driving lanes, gradually sloping ramps, and 8 and one third foot wide stalls for angle parking. The customer will be directed to the closest parking stall by an attendant. After parking his car, he will remove his keys and lock it. Upon returning to the garage, he will pay the parking fee, proceed to his car and drive out.
The garage was built by Kansas City at a cost of over $6 million. Construction was started 21 months ago. The garage is connected to the Municipal Auditorium by a direct under-the-street tunnel. Tunnel connections will also be provided under Wyandotte St. to the hotels located on the east side. A landscaped park and fountain will be installed on the roof of the garage at street level early in the spring.
The garage has been designed so that the parker need not cross major traffic lanes. Escalators connect all levels of the garage and provide quick access to the street.
City officials are planning a formal opening and open house on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 4.
Professor To Begin 3 Days Of Lectures
Dr. Oscar Haugh, professor of education, will begin a tight three-day lecture series Dec. 3.
On Dec. 3, he will deliver two addresses, one to the Kansas Federated Women's Clubs workshop on the campus in the afternoon and the other to the Jefferson County Teachers Association at Oskaloosa that night.
On Dec. 5, he will address the city teachers' association at Parsons, Dec. 6, he will speak to a workshop of high school English teachers in Kansas City, Kan, and he will make his regular monthly visit to Wichita as consultant in that city's curriculum improvement program.
Highway To Be Moved For Goodvear Plant
TOPEKA—(U.P.)—U. S. Highway 24 will be rerouted near Topeka to provide the needed room for the multi-million-dollar expansion of the Goodyear Tire Factory.
The Shawnee county commissioners drafted an order to vacate the old segment of the highway as soon as the new location to the south is completed. Goodyear officials outlined a tentative $9\frac{1}{2} million expansion program for the state's only tire making plant.
> KU is going to grammar school through the medium of radio.
The Jayhawk School of the Air is presenting educational programs for children in the elementary schools in Kansas.
"Adventures in Music Land" is a weekly program designed to acquaint children with musical instruments. "Playtime" presents rhythms and games. "Time for a Story" is a presentation of children's literature.
The series, which was an idea of Miss Mildred Seaman, program director for KFKU and KANU, and Miss Maud Elsworth, associate professor of education, started 14 years ago as "Art by Radio." This program continues to bring the best talent in the School of Fine Arts into the elementary classrooms of Kansas.
"Komm, Sing Mit Mir," a weekly German lesson, is part of a nationwide effort to introduce modern foreign languages into the elementary schools.
Five other programs are broadcast by arrangement with the National Association of Educational Broadcasters. These programs are heard only over KANU, KU's 35-000 watt FM station. KANU is Kansas' most powerful station.
These programs together with "Art by Radio," are produced here and are heard over both KFKU and KANU.
These programs are in the fields of nature study, science, literature and social studies, music appreciation, and French.
KU To Attend London Ceremony
Dr. Thomas R. Smith, professor of geography, who is in Holland on a Fulbright teaching scholarship, will represent the University at the installation of Queen Mother Elizabeth as rector of the University of London tomorrow and Thursday.
He will attend the ceremony in place of Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy who is unable to attend. Dr. Smith teaches at the Rotterdam College of Economics.
In British universities the position of rector or chancellor is an honorary one filled by a distinguished personage. The official who runs the university is the vice-rector.
The University of London is one of the largest English universities with an enrollment of 40,000.
Prof. Smith Appointed Education Official
Dr. Herbert A. Smith, associate professor of education and director search and Service, has been apo of the Bureau of Educational Repointed secretary of the educational branch of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Dr. Smith has been active in the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, an affiliate of the AAAS. As secretary he is responsible for organizing the program for the annual meeting.
Reds Begin Power Station
LONDON—(U.P.)-Radio Moscow said yesterday that the Soviet Union will begin construction of the "world's largest" hydro-electric power station on the Angara River in Siberia next year.